HOMESCHOOLING VERSUS TRADITIONAL SCHOOLING. WHICH IS BETTER FOR CHILDREN?

Education is one of the most notable investments within the world. In the early 20th century, parents often debate which form of education is best for their children, such as homeschooling or traditional schooling. Whilst a large number of parents favor traditional school because they believe an academic training system equips their children with social skills, extracurricular activities, there are also some parents preferring homeschooled as an alternative. It is believed that due to the disbelief of the academic instruction system, and the self-assurance that parents can offer children higher education are some causes behind homeschooling. Whether homeschooled or traditional education is beneficial for pupils, it is subject to several features, involving the acquiring essentials of the children and the exclusive circumstances of the family. In this essay, I will point out the advantages and drawbacks of both homeschooling and attending public schools. Traditional school is an academic institution which takes place among tutors and learners where all are physically and mentally attended within the same classroom and teaching programs are organized into a schedule. Traditional school has several advantages that cannot be replaced like an active environment, extracurricular activities, professional teachers and modern facilities. First, the students have the opportunity to study in a dynamic environment, which is often conducive to critical thinking, gaining knowledge, and also filled with a diversity of people from exceptional backgrounds, financial status, ethnic to help students socialize with others that are different from themselves. Lawrence (2013) claimed that public schools endow undergraduate students for journey in a diverse society (p. 1). Next, compared to home education, the large range of extracurricular activities offered at public schools are a huge bonus. Thirdly, students can get the right of access to an extraordinarily skilled expert within the form of the instructor who demanded to have a diploma, teaching license in order to work out as an educator and a specialist in their field and this gives them an extravagant, effective pedagogy. They are qualified to educate and purvey information, to inspire and motivate learners, to upgrade and encourage critical thinking and analytical skills to a higher level. Besides, owing to a variety of learners, it is favorable to teach a lot of valuable lessons; for example, teamwork and cooperation, conflict debate, and different crucial social competencies. In other words, newcomers have a companion to bounce their mind off and check out theories while not having to ask an adult; a few students discover pair or peer work is much less stressful and are less terrified of doing wrong than they would be with a teacher or parents. This social element is a key advantage of traditional schooling, and beneficial to students. Homeschooling also has a great deal of advantages such as bringing family together, more flexibility in schedule, shun bullying. Additionally, homeschooling may encourage closer family relationships because the children spend more time studying and discussing difficulties with parents; therefore, relatives can easily understand and get on well with the children. What is more, pupils have opportunities to learn at their own pace, choose what they prefer to learn, and use whatever learning technique that they feel comfortable with. Due to homeschooled children having a flexible schedule, no exhausting homework and children are not restricted to the place and time they must study. A report by Chang et al. , (2011, p. 195) shows that homeschooled learners were additional mellow than the traditional school learners. By working with a variety of people performing in different aspects, different eras, different backgrounds they can gain an immense experience about the real world. Eventually, they develop a greater level of discipline and self-organization since total freedom allows managing time better. Aasen (2010) has pointed out that almost eighty percent of homeschooled students participated in university and their achievement proportion is higher than their traditional school colleagues (p. 12). Moreover, because of bullying, homeschooling turns out to be a fantastic method for children to study without worrying about being bullied, or pressure of keeping up with more advanced students. Despite all the benefits above, there are some downsides of public school and homeschooling. As for traditional schools, it has a more rigid and well-organized schedule than most homeschooling programs and students may not have the flexibility with their timetable. Moreover, traditional school is very expensive as the school provides modern facilities and parents had to pay the tuition fee for tutors. In terms of homeschooled, one of the most glaring disadvantages is that parents may not be a specialized teacher like educators in public school; hence, children may not be teaching accurate programs and have materials, sources like in traditional school. Princiotta, Beilic, & Champion (2006) claimed that virtually fifty percent of homeschooled scholars used learning materials from homeschooling administrations, local libraries, churches, synagogues or other religious institutions (p. 1). In addition, homeschooling facilities, it is intolerable that a homeschooling can be well-equipped as a public school and children may be restricted to approach to extracurricular activities including outdoor activities such as swimming, football, tennis. Furthermore, time is another problem to homeschooling, commitment and dedication are essential in term of parents, especially occupied parents, in order to make sure that children can attain an advance education, parent ought to invest both time and effort; for example, take time to plan and set up courses, educate, give exams, and organized field trips for children. Latham (1998) shows that homeschooling students with parents that devote time, knowledge can be prosperous as those pupils in traditional schools (p. 85). Last but not least, the opportunities to socialize with other children may be lessened than in public school. Romanowski (2006) have declared that more than ninety percent of homeschooled children did not get socialization experience. To sum up, traditional schooling and homeschooling both have advantages and disadvantages such as professional teachers, extracurricular activities, closer family relationships and self-organization. Parents should base on the criteria, benefits and disadvantages of homeschooling and public school to consider before making the decision since the method of education plays a significant role in children’s life.